You don’t need to be told. You’ve already noticed it yourself. Gas prices in Las Vegas are creeping back toward $5 a gallon.
And the bigger problem: Nevada isn’t really in control of those prices.
Governor Joe Lombardo says that’s a problem he’s trying to fix.
Fuel prices in Nevada shouldn’t be dictated by California’s politicians.
That’s why I stood up to Gavin Newsom and created the Fuel Resiliency Committee to diversify our fuel supply and make Nevada more energy independent – something no Governor has done before.
Cathy… pic.twitter.com/j2siu6NZtW
— Joe Lombardo (@JoeLombardoNV) March 23, 2026
In January, Lombardo launched a new Fuel Resiliency Committee. The goal is to reduce Nevada’s heavy reliance on California for fuel.
Right now, about 86 to 90 percent of the state’s gasoline comes from there; sd when California sneezes, Nevada catches a cold.
When One State Calls the Shots
Over the past year, several California refineries have shut down or scaled back, including major facilities like Phillips 66 in Los Angeles and Valero in Benicia.
Less supply means higher prices. That’s easy enough to understand. But there’s more to it.
California also runs a “cap and trade” program. It puts limits on emissions and adds extra costs for fuel producers.
Those costs don’t stay in California. They get passed along to drivers in places like Nevada.
Cathy Reheis-Boyd, vice chair of Nevada’s Fuel Resiliency Committee, recently warned that California could shrink from nine refineries down to just one by 2040 if current policies continue.
One.
If that happens, Nevada drivers won’t just be paying more. They’ll be stuck with virtually no backup plan.
Lombardo’s Plan
Lombardo has been blunt. Nevada fuel prices shouldn’t be dictated by California politicians.
That’s why the committee is looking at ways to expand supply options.
Ideas include bringing in fuel from other states, improving infrastructure, and reducing the state’s dependence on a single source.
He also teamed up with Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs to send a letter to California Governor Gavin Newsom. They asked him to rethink policies that could further limit fuel production.
People Want Results, Not Meetings
Still, not everyone is convinced this effort is moving fast enough. Skeptics say Nevada needs real action, not another study group.
Suggestions pop up often. Build a pipeline from Texas. Open a refinery in Nevada. Lock in fuel contracts outside California.
Those ideas sound good on paper. But each comes with big costs, long timelines, and heavy regulation.
That doesn’t make the frustration go away, but it tells us a bit about why we haven’t seen immediate results.
How Nevada Got Here
Nevada didn’t plan to be this dependent. It happened over time.
California had the refineries. Nevada had growing demand. It was easy to rely on a neighbor.
Now California is moving away from fossil fuels. They see electric vehicles being the future; gas production is out, EVs are in.
Nevada, on the other hand, still runs on gasoline.
According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, Western states already pay more for fuel because of limited supply and stricter standards. Nevada’s reliance on one source makes that even worse.
The Road Ahead for Nevada Drivers
This fight is over more than gas prices. It’s also about control.
Right now, Nevada doesn’t have much of it.
Lombardo’s committee is a step toward changing that. Whether it leads to real results is still an open question.
In the meantime, Nevada drivers are watching the numbers climb at the pump.
And until we find another way to fuel up, California will keep setting the price.
The opinions expressed by contributors are their own and do not necessarily represent the views of Nevada News & Views. Digital technology was used in the research, writing, and production of this article. Please verify information and consult additional sources as needed.
